Chapter 2
Two
Isobel’s entire body was on fire, and she wished she could run and hide. She looked down at the ground, mortification consuming her entire being.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking just a little. She shouldn’t have said all those things to a total stranger.
The man in front of her certainly didn’t need to know about the darkest parts of her life. The shame she would now carry after being left at the altar.
She expected the man’s disgust, or perhaps even laughter, for the shame she and her father were bringing to her family.
After all, the scheme Father concocted was truly ridiculous.
He had ruined the family, was continuing to lie about it, and somehow, he was expecting Isobel to save them all through marriage.
Now, she would be lucky if a man would have her. Though, if Father continued to pretend the dowry existed when it didn’t, he could weasel his way into another offer for her hand.
The man in front of her sighed. “You’re not the first woman I’ve heard of that has had to marry for the sins of her father and I doubt you’ll be the last.”
Her jaw nearly hit the ground.
“You have?” Isobel kept stroking Darling’s fur, soothing herself with the puppy in her arms.
The man’s mouth twitched. “You’re certainly far from the first woman who has endured a loveless marriage.”
“I won’t be enduring it. I told you. He refused to marry me at the altar. He could’ve saved me the humiliation and called it off this morning, but instead he waited until he was asked if he would take me as his wife!”
The man shrugged, his hands slipping into the pockets of his breeches. “Perhaps you should take a moment to focus on the positive aspects that have come from this.”
“I don't think there’s anything positive that’s come from this. Not even a little.” Isobel smiled as the puppy, Darling, started wagging her tail which created a steady thump against Isobel’s ribs.
“You’ve been liberated. This man might have embarrassed you, but you’re liberated now. You don’t have to marry someone you find odious. You’re free to go out there and live your life. It’s more than most women can say.”
Isobel laughed and shook her head, eyeing him. “You don’t understand.”
“And what is it you think I don’t understand?” He leaned against the wall of the building beside her, studying her with a shining curiosity in his eyes.
“What it’s like to be a woman.”
“Explain it to me then.” The man shuffled a little closer to her, his arm nearly close enough to brush against hers. Heat radiated from his body to hers. “Tell me what it’s like to be a woman.”
“Just because I was spared a loveless union doesn’t mean I’m liberated.
Women have no true freedom. You’re either controlled by your father, or you’re controlled by your husband.
You don’t get to have an opinion on what happens in your life and if you dare to speak your mind, you’re in trouble. Or dismissed.”
“Is that all?” the man asked, his words soft, not like he was trying to dismiss her, but more like he wanted to understand.
“There is so much more. In this world a woman must be bound to her husband or her father and all she can do is hope that one is less cruel than the other.”
“Then you have yet to meet the right man.” The stranger gave her that disarming smile. “I could introduce you to the right man in this very moment.”
“If you mean yourself, I will take my chances at being a nun.”
“I could change your mind.”
He pushed off the wall, turning to face her, taking a step closer to her, his gaze dropping to her lips before flickering back up to her eyes. Isobel’s heart slammed into her ribs, her mouth going dry. Her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip.
The man stood close to her, far too close for liking. She could reach out and run her fingers along the stubble on his jaw if she wanted to.
And for a moment, she did want to.
“No matter what happens, I’m ruined. No man is going to want to marry me when they find out there is no dowry to be had.” Isobel dragged her bottom lip between her teeth.
The man stepped even closer. “It’s only on the edge of ruin that we finally find freedom.”
Isobel stared at him, wondering if it would really be so wrong to close the distance between them. To allow him to kiss her. To fully ruin her since there was nothing else left for her.
“Claim your freedom,” he whispered, his voice husky.
This is a horrid idea. This man is a stranger. I don’t know what he wants from me, but I’m sure it’s not good. It’s only going to get me into more trouble.
“A-are you trying to s-seduce me?” She took a step back, turning and pressing as close to the wall behind her as possible.
“If I were, you would know it.” He straightened up, taking a step back with an easy smile on his face.
Her cheeks burned white hot as she looked away, her breathing a little ragged. She had been made a fool by another man. It was the second time in a single day. How much worse could her day get?
“Come, Darling,” the man said, that rasp still in his voice.
Isobel whipped to look at him. “How dare you—”
“I was talking to the dog.” The man held his hands out for the puppy. “I have other things to do with my day, and it seems like you have ruination to face, so if you don’t mind, I’ll be taking my dog now.”
Isobel cleared her throat and handed him the dog.
“Good girl.” He smirked, eyes on her again.
She studied him for a moment, trying to decide whether to be appalled or not. She couldn’t tell who he was talking to, but she hoped for just a moment that the sultry tone of his might be for her. Just a fleeting feeling of being wanted by someone.
And then the feeling was gone as he decided he was talking to the dog.
“I hope whoever you have to interact with next gets a more pleasant version of you than I have.”
Isobel scowled, crossing her arms.
“Good luck with the ruination, but if you ever wish for someone to ruin you properly, you may find me at Foxdrey.” He turned and strode back to the carriage, loading Darling in before climbing in himself and shutting the door.
“Rake.”
Wait a moment... Did he say Foxdrey? Oh, no…
As the carriage rolled away, the wheels clicking over the cobblestones, the truth of his identity hit her.
That was Andrew Pasley—the Duke of Foxdrey, and a notorious rake… better known as the Mayfair Fox.
“The Mayfair Fox has decided to visit us in Stormglen?” Eleanor smirked, leaning against the doorframe. “And he brought a dog. How quaint.”
“You’re too innocent to know the nature of my business, dear cousin,” Andrew said, patting Darling. “Now, where is my niece?”
Penelope came flying out of the house from behind Eleanor, her smile wide. “Uncle Andrew!”
“Penelope!” Andrew crouched down in front of his niece, holding out Darling. “I’ve brought you a present.”
“A dog?” Penelope’s eyes grew wide as she took Darling and cradled her close, kissing the top of her head. “I love her!”
“Her name is Darling, and if you train her well, you will never have a more loyal companion.”
Penelope nodded, her smile glowing bright before she turned and disappeared back into the estate. Eleanor straightened up and pushed the door open wider, motioning for Andrew to follow her.
He entered the house behind her, shutting the door and following her into the parlor.
“You came to Stormglen with a dog. Why? What do you want?” Eleanor smiled as she perched on the chair in the corner, her hands folding in her lap.
Andrew sat down on the couch opposite her, leaning back against the cushion and stretching his legs in front of him, crossing his feet at the ankles. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Be honest.” Eleanor laughed, nodding to the maid who brought in a tray with tea and little cakes. “I’ve known you too long to fall for the innocent act, Andrew.”
“I have a need for a duchess, and I thought you might know someone who would be good enough.”
“Good enough?” Eleanor scoffed as the maid poured them both cups of tea, handing them off once they were poured and sweeping out of the room.
“Yes, that is what I said.” He sipped his tea before setting it back down on the table and reaching for one of the little yellow cakes.
“I need a wife who is good enough. A match that’s going to earn me respect and keep men from wanting to kill me because their wives choose to look at me a little too long. ”
“I can hardly believe this. You want to settle down. I never thought I would see the day when you wanted to find a wife. I thought you would be a bachelor forever. Lonely. Miserable. Lost in that horrid Mayfair Fox gambling business of yours.”
“The Mayfair Fox is hardly horrid. I will admit that it could be a bit unsavory at times, but the gambling house has done well for the Foxdrey estate after Father ruined it.”
“You have done well indeed. I mean it, Andrew.”
Andrew shrugged, glancing out the window and looking at the sun shining on the front gardens, melting some of the snow that resided there.
Soon, early spring would take hold and the Season would begin.
Andrew needed to be prepared. He needed Eleanor to help him navigate the horde of women looking for a family, even if he didn’t want to admit it to her.
Over the years, he had more than enough women looking to him for marriage. But now that he was thirty-two and had made a name for himself that damsels dared not even whisper, the ladies fathers shuffled them into other rooms the moment they knew Andrew was in the same one.
Hopefully, Eleanor would be able to find some woman whose father might be willing to tie her to him permanently.
“Why would you need help finding a wife?” Eleanor smirked around the lip of her teacup. “Haven’t you already bedded half the ton? You are more familiar with debutantes than I will ever be.”
He rolled his eyes, knowing that his reputation was one of the reasons his business was struggling. Why the fortune he worked so hard to make was going to disappear if he didn’t do something about it.
“Hardly half. A third. And I never even touched a debutante. I have my own moral code, you see. I only ruin those who are beyond saving.” Andrew smirked, but the teasing smile fell quickly as he shook his head.
He hadn’t thought about the ramifications of his actions until they came back to bite him.
“I need a wife. Are you going to help me?”
“I will, but I don’t know what you hope to gain from this. You always said that you were never going to settle down, and I think that’s a well-known fact around the ton.”
“The third of the ton I’ve bedded is the reason I need to marry, though this is far from settling down. This is a simple necessity that I’ve finally come to the conclusion I need.”
“Practical as ever.” Eleanor shook her head, taking a little cake for herself.
“I need a clean start. My business and personal reputation cannot handle another scandal.” Andrew finished his cake, reaching for his tea to wash it down. “I cannot afford to lose everything I’ve built.”
“Fine.” Eleanor smirked, and he didn't like the wicked look in her eyes. “The Season starts in two weeks. I’ll help you then. We’ll find you a good wife, and when your reputation is saved, you can say you owe it all to me.”
He grimaced, but there was no other option. If he wanted to save Mayfair Fox, he needed a wife.
Perhaps that jilted woman might be free.